A new helicopter stationed in Holly Ridge will cut the response time to critical Onslow County patients in half.

Firefighters, EMTs and dispatchers gathered at the Onslow County Emergency Operations Center Saturday learn how to clear and secure a landing zone for the helicopter, which is part of New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s AirLink program.

While the helicopter wasn’t able to fly on Saturday due to fog, local first responders understand the impact the helicopter will bring to the area.

Angie McAdams, AirLink Outreach Coordinator, led the training that stressed the importance of picking, marking and clearing an appropriate landing zone for the helicopter when it is dispatched.

A press release from NHRMC stated that the AirLink helicopter is equipped with a modern medical interior, the latest mobile medical technology and advanced safety features including Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems, night vision goggles, weather radar, Sky Connect remote satellite tracking system and Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System.

Even with all these systems, it is up to the first responders on the ground to make sure the helicopter can safely land and collect the injured patient.

Chief Greg Jeppson with the Half Moon Fire Department said that one of the firefighter’s jobs in a critical situation is to find a suitable landing spot for the AirLink helicopter.

He said that the officer in charge has to prepare a landing zone brief to report to the helicopter crew about overhead wires, trees, towers, type of soil and other details associated with the landing zone.

Jeppson said that if the area is dusty, he will wet it down a little with a handline before the helicopter comes in to decrease the chances of low visibility or a brownout. He also has his men police the area for any items that might blow up or around and damage the helicopter.

Basically, the crew on the ground ensures the safety of not only the patient being transported, but also the helicopter crew transporting them.

Sometimes, the AirLink helicopter may be the only transportation that can get a critically ill patient to the care they need quickly enough to be effective.

Terry McDowell, administrator of Emergency Transportation Services for NHRMC, said that AirLink has two main purposes.

“It allows a cutdown on response times,” he said, “and it allows Onslow County EMS to stay in the county.”

Beth Himes, emergency medical services division chief in Onslow County, said an AirLink helicopter to Holly Ridge will increase the regional response and decrease response times.

“Decreasing response times gives patients a better chance,” Himes said. “It is important to get critically ill patients, especially those with heart attacks and trauma, to the appropriate care quickly.”

Page 2 of 2 - Himes said the response time of an AirLink helicopter, when launched from Wilmington, was approximately 30 minutes.

She said that moving a helicopter up to Holly Ridge has shrank that response time to 6-15 minutes, depending on where it has to fly.

Himes also said the helicopter will get critically ill patients the right kind of care in a decent amount of time — within 60 minutes for trauma patients and 90 minutes for heart attack patients.

“We’re not able to drive that by ground,” she said.

If given proper notice, and ability to get proper fuel, AirLink can transport critical patients to the care they need. For example, burn patients can be transported to Chapel Hill and pediatric patients can be taken to Greenville.

Himes said Onslow County called for an AirLink helicopter about 101 times in 2012 to fly patients out of the county.

Stephanie Allen, telecommunications supervisor for Onslow County, agreed that the helicopter has a huge impact on the area.

“We call for helicopters so often,” she said. “It’s a Godsend. A quicker response means we can get that patient on their way and move on to the next person who needs our help.”